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New Delhi, July 30, 2025 – The Government of India has taken significant strides to bolster the nation’s biotechnology sector by establishing 94 biotechnology incubation and pre-incubation centres across 25 States and Union Territories. This initiative, driven by the Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science & Technology through the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), aims to nurture entrepreneurship and scale cutting-edge technological innovations in the life sciences.
The announcement was made in a written reply to the Lok Sabha by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences. According to Dr. Singh, the network of incubators has been developed under flagship programs such as BioNEST (Bioincubators Nurturing Entrepreneurship for Scaling Technologies) and E-YUVA (Encouraging Youth for Undertaking Innovative Research Activities).
Statewise Distribution
The incubators are spread strategically across the country, reflecting both regional strengths and emerging hubs:
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Tamil Nadu leads with 13 centres, followed by Karnataka (11), Telangana (9), and Delhi (7).
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Other states, including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, have also benefited from multiple incubators under these schemes.
Additionally, the Department of Science & Technology (DST) has supported five more biotechnology-focused incubators in Karnataka, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, and Telangana.
Funding and Expansion
To ensure the growth and sustainability of these centres, BIRAC issues a nationwide call for proposals every year, earmarking ₹20–30 crore annually to set up 10–15 new incubators. Over the last 13 years (2012–2025), the government has allocated a total of ₹48,942.37 lakh for the operation, development, and management of these bio-incubators, reinforcing India’s ambition to become a global biotechnology innovation hub.
“The continued government support will catalyze entrepreneurship among young scientists, foster start-up culture, and enhance India’s self-reliance in critical areas of biotechnology,” Dr. Jitendra Singh stated in his official reply.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on a written response from Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology, as published by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) Delhi on July 30, 2025. Figures and policy details are accurate as per the information currently available and are subject to official updates.
